Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-02
Antarctic Research.

part in the addition to the worlds know
ledge OF the geographical, geological,
and magnetic conditions OF the North
Polar countries. Not in the lands north
of our own continent alone, but in the
Arctic regions Of other ATTITUDES our ex-
plorers have been among the most
daring and the most successful. Since
the time of Wilkes, however, who made
the famous expedition of 1S39-'40, we
have left the seeming anomaly of frozen
regions in the South to their own frigid
solitudes, broken only occasionally in
the lapse of forty-odd years by the APP
proach of timorous mariners from other
nations.
But the question of Antarctic research
has been reagitated recently, and posi-
BILE explorations in those still almost I'M
known regions are receiving a new i'm
petus from an unexpected quarter. The
British colonies of Australasia, DESTROYS
OF knowing why they have so variable a
climate. or for some unknown reason,
are pressing the Home Government to
aid them in fitting out an expedition for
Southern exploration. Great Britain
has evidently regretted of late years
that there we're no more worlds to con-
quer. and that her Asian extension was
so iealcusly watched. 1t is natural,
therefore, that greater Braitain should
be possessed by the same feeling and
show the same far.reaching apprehen
sion of the day when the Australasian
nominations should reach the falling
overheard point.
BE that as it ray, whatever the mo-
tive, Sir Graham Berry, the agent-gene-
raj of Australia in England, has received
instructions from the government of Vic
toria to ask her Majesty for $4,000,
which, added to a like sum promised by
the colonists themselves, would be suffi-
cient, it is thought, to send ont an expe-
dition TO the South Seas from Victoria.
The matter was to have been placed be-
fore the British Association at its recent
meeting in Manchester, but reached Sir
Erasmus Ommaney too late to carry out
that intention, as indeed it reached Eng
land too late for any action upon it by
the English Government of the pres mt
year.
As an evidence of the serious inten-
tons of the cOlonists there are definite
and detailed plans already made, based
upon discussions held for over year
past by the royal institutions and socie-
ties Of Tasmania, New South Wales,
South Australia, Queensland, New Zea-
land, Auckland, and one or two others.
These plans are to be carried into exc
cution as soon as effective sanction is
given by the Home Government.
The scheme drawn up by the Antarctic
Society of Australia and given in n
recent issue of the London Times is for
the Government to invite tenders from
willing to perform the SER
vices required. Its outline is Of a
thoroughly comprehensive nature, and
attention to all the points on
which information is desired with
reference TO the South Polar region.
While encouragement is given to the
promotion Of the whaling industry
are held ont for the
OF as high a latitude as
possible, and it is stipulated that oppor-
tunities shall he afforded TO the scientific
staff to add to the knowledge of the
ocennography, terrestrial
natural history, and geology
OF the region. The tenderers are re-
quired to provide two fortified ships, |
each not less than 175 tons register and
so horsepower nominal. Sir Allen
Young has already been asked to take
charge of the proposed expedition, and
his reply, with that of the Home Gov
eminent, is still pending.
That such an expedition, if success
fully carried ont, would be of decided
scientific value is incontrOyertible. The
scanty information furnished by early |
explorers of these regions has added
much to orr knowledge of meteorology, |!
ocean currents, and terrestrial magne-
tism, and, also, in view of future eXpe !
ditions, has ascertained that there were
great stretches of land, high mountains,
and volcanoes still TO he studied from |
geological and biological points of view,
with unquestioned advantage to science. !
Moreover, from the experiences of these /
yoyagers, We know that be-
You'd the ice wall which guards the polar
circle of the south, differing from the
northern regions, there are open seas,
making exploration easier and more
With the many aids OF modern science
in the matter Of navigation, principally |
that of steam, which has never yet been
used in exploring the Antarctic regions,
it is not improbable that We may in a few
years, thanks to the zeal of our Australia
sian neighbors, know the formation and
natural laws of polar countries, and,
though explorers have hitherto been per
,istently barred from reaching one pole,
hey may yet stand enthusiastically and
scientifically upon the other. While there
IS no pressing demand for q southwest
passage in behalf Of the worlds COM
nerce, the value to science i'll discovering
md examining the Antartic polar re-
yions is sufficient to offset the cost of
such an expedition as the present one.
But whatever exploration is undertaken
t should be entrusted to thoroughly
competent hands. The voyages of Nord-
enskold have been conducted in way
@ obtain results that are not merely
of useless curiosity at the
,isk and sacrifice of life. Polar expedi-
ions should not be made henceforth for
he sake of planting a flag few miles
north Of any point previously reached.
How II LOOKS from Distance.